Lobelia plant named &#39;Wesloba&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Wesloba’, characterized by its cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; short intemodes; freely and uniform flowering habit; and dark blue and white bi-colored flowers.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

[0001]Lobelia×hybrida cultivar WESLOBA

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesloba’.

[0003] The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Lobelia cultivars with a desirable growth habit and interesting flower colors.

[0004] The new Lobelia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2002 of the Lobelia erinus cultivar Weslowei, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,708, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 01P508, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultant progeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in 2002.

[0005] Asexual reproduction since 2002 of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesloba’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesloba’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

[0007] 1. Cascading plant habit.

[0008] 2. Freely branching habit with short intemodes.

[0009] 3. Freely and uniform flowering habit.

[0010] 4. Dark blue and white bi-colored flowers.

[0011] Plants of the new Lobelia have smaller flowers than plants of the female parent, the cultivar Weslowei. In addition, plants of the new Lobelia and the cultivar Weslowei differ in flower color. Plants of the new Lobelia have narrower stems than plants of the male parent, a proprietary selection identified as code number 01P508. In addition, plants of the new Lobelia have flowers with smaller white markings than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

[0012] Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,634. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Lobelia differed from plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue in the following characteristics:

[0013] 1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more compact than plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue.

[0014] 2. Plants of the new Lobelia had smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue.

[0015] 3. Flowers of plants of the new Lobelia were darker blue in color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Weslobigblue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0016] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side close-up view of a typical plant of ‘Wesloba’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typical flower of ‘Wesloba’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0017] Plants of the cultivar Wesloba have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0018] In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the description were grown in a glass-covered greenhouse and conditions that closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring and summer in Südlohn, Germany. Plants used for the above-mentioned photographs and following description were grown as one plant per 12-cm container or three plants per 25-cm hanging basket container. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. Plants were pinched once during the production period by removing about 1 to 2 cm of the uppermost apical growing tip. Plants were about 20 weeks from planting when the photographs and description were taken.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

[0019]Lobelia erinus cultivar Wesloba.

PARENTAGE

[0020] Female parent: Lobelia erinus, ‘Weslowei’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,708.

[0021] Male parent: Proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 01P508, not patented.

PROPAGATION

[0022] Type cutting: Terminal vegetative cuttings.

[0023] Time to initiate roots: About 18 to 21 days at 20° C.

[0024] Time to develop roots: About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.

[0025] Root description: Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

[0026] Plant form/habit: Cascading and rounded flowering plants with intense dark blue and white bi-colored flowers. Lateral shoots outwardly spreading; plants uniform and trailing. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at every node; dense and bushy plant habit. Pinching plants will enhance branching. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

[0027] Usage: Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patio containers.

[0028] Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane): About 16.5 cm.

[0029] Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices): About 37 cm.

[0030] Plant diameter: About 25 cm.

[0031] Lateral branch description:

[0032]Length.—About 17 cm.

[0033]Diameter.—About 1 mm.

[0034]Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.

[0035]Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.

[0036]Color.—147A.

[0037] Foliage description:

[0038]Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.

[0039]Basal leaves.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape: Elliptic to ovate. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate. Petiole length: About 8 mm.

[0040]Mid-plant leaves.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to round. Apex: Retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate. Petiole length: About 8.4 mm.

[0041]Apical leaves.—Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 6.7 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly dentate. Petiole length: Petioles not observed. Texture, all leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.

[0042]Color, all leaves.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully developed foliage, upper surface: 146A; venation, 146B. Fully developed foliage, lower surface: 146B; venation, 146B.

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

[0043] Flower type and habit: Flowers arranged singly at lateral apices. Flowers held mostly outwardly. Flowers persistent. Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not fragrant.

[0044] Flower shape: Tubular with three larger lower petals and two upright petals.

[0045] Natural flowering season: Spring until frost in the autumn.

[0046] Flower longevity on the plant: Longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on weather conditions; typically three to ten days.

[0047] Flower size:

[0048]Diameter.—About 1.8 cm.

[0049]Depth (height).—About 1.8 cm.

[0050]Tube length.—About 8.7 mm.

[0051]Throat diameter, distal end.—About 4.7 mm.

[0052]Tube diameter, proximal end.—About 2.8 mm.

[0053] Flower buds:

[0054]Length.—About 1 cm.

[0055]Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.

[0056]Shape.—Oblong.

[0057]Color.—Base and towards the mid-section, 145D to 96B to 96D; at the apex, close to 96A to 96C.

[0058] Petals:

[0059]Arrangement.—Single whorl of five petals, fused; three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals.

[0060]Three lower petals.—Shape: Obovate. Length, above throat: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 7.6 mm.

[0061]Two upper petals.—Shape: Spatulate. Length, above throat: About 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm.

[0062]Upper and lower petals.—Apex: Cuspidate to round. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Towards the margin 96A; towards the center, 155D. When opening, lower surface: 96B to 96C. Fully opened, upper surface: 96B to 96C, towards the center, 155D. Fully opened, lower surface: 96D to 97B. Throat: 97D; towards the center, 155D; spots, 96A, and stripes, 144A. Tube: 96D to 97A to 97D; spots, 96C, and stripes, 144B.

[0063] Sepals:

[0064]Arrangement.—Single whorl of five sepals, star-shaped calyx.

[0065]Length.—About 7.1 mm.

[0066]Width.—About 1.2 mm.

[0067]Shape.—Triangular to elliptic.

[0068]Apex.—Acute.

[0069]Margin.—Entire.

[0070]Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth.

[0071]Color, upper and lower surfaces.—137A.

[0072] Peduncles:

[0073]Appearance.—Wiry.

[0074]Length.—About 2.6 cm.

[0075]Diameter.—About 1 mm.

[0076]Color.—137A.

[0077] Reproductive organs:

[0078]Stamens.—Quantity per flower: About five, fused. Anther length: About 2.8 mm. Anther diameter: About 2 mm. Anther texture: Pubescent. Anther color: 186A to 91A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 11A.

[0079]Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted, ovate. Stigma texture: Pubescent. Stigma color, immature: 86A. Stigma color, mature: 86A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: 144B. Ovary color: 144B.

[0080]Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been observed.

DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE

[0081] Plants of the new Lobelia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia.

TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE

[0082] Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 4 to 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Wesloba’, as illustrated and described. 